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Ed Sheeran Asks Robert Kraft to Donate $2m in Aid After Macklemore Controversy
Confirmed
In Short: British singer Ed Sheeran has asked Patriots owner Robert Kraft to donate $2m in aid, following the removal of rapper Macklemore from his tour for calling for 'Free Palestine'.
After Macklemore separately pledged $1m to Palestinian organizations, challenging Kraft to match the sum, Sheeran asked the Patriots owner to donate $2m in aid to the region.
Kraft did not confirm the donation or specify where the funds would go, while Sheeran himself did not comment on any donation he might be making or other philanthropic plans.
Macklemore's call for 'Free Palestine' during Sheeran's concerts in New Jersey led to his removal as an opening act, sparking a debate on free speech.
In response, Macklemore announced he would donate his net earnings from the tour to six Palestinian organizations, aiming to shift the conversation back to the Palestinian people.
The controversy has also led to other support acts quitting Sheeran's tour, with the artists arguing that Macklemore's removal represented a chilling effect on free speech.
What's confirmed
- After Macklemore separately pledged $1m to Palestinian organizations, challenging Kraft to match the sum, Sheeran asked the Patriots owner to donate $2m in aid to the region.
- Kraft did not confirm the donation or specify where the funds would go, while Sheeran himself did not comment on any donation he might be making or other philanthropic plans.
- Macklemore's call for 'Free Palestine' during Sheeran's concerts in New Jersey led to his removal as an opening act, sparking a debate on free speech.
- In response, Macklemore announced he would donate his net earnings from the tour to six Palestinian organizations, aiming to shift the conversation back to the Palestinian people.
- The controversy has also led to other support acts quitting Sheeran's tour, with the artists arguing that Macklemore's removal represented a chilling effect on free speech.
What's still developing
- On Monday, he confirmed he had Macklemore dropped as the opening act from the bill for British singer's forthcoming performance at his Gillette Stadium near Boston, accusing the rapper of hate speech during a previous show for calling for "Free Palestine" and making other comments and showing images of Gaza on stage.
- Sheeran has said the decision to drop Macklemore from his Loop Tour was made by promoters and that he would not be drawn into a public debate over Gaza.
- In the statement, which was issued by Gillette Stadium on Kraft's behalf, he said he would like those speaking in support of the Palestinian people to know that he has long "supported efforts that create opportunity for Palestinians".
- "I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people," Kraft said.
- Macklemore - real name Benjamin Haggerty - called for a "free Palestine" and showed images of devastation in Gaza during two Sheeran concerts in New Jersey earlier this month.
- Sheeran, who performed at Kraft's 2022 wedding, said on Tuesday he was not responsible for Macklemore being removed as an opening act from the tour.
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